Machine for preparing quill substances.



. w. WEBSTER. MACHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANCES.

APPLIOA TION FILED 00'];- 31, 1906.

Patented Nov. 10,1908.

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W. WEBSTER.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANCES.

Patented Nov. 10,1908. 1O BHEBTS-SKEET 2.

APPLIOATION FILED 0-013. 31 903,248.v

THE NORRIS PETERS co., wasRINa'mN, n. c.

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Patented Nov. 10, 1908. 10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. WEBSTER. MACHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANCES. APPLICATION FILED 001*. a1, 1906.

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MACHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANCES.

Patented Nov. 10,1908.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 1906.

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MAOHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANGES'.3

APPLICATION FILED 00m, 31, 1906.

903,248. I I Patented Nov. 10,1908.

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MACHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 903,248. 31 Patented Nov. 10,1908. 10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

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W. WEBSTER.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANCES.

APPLIOATIOLF FILED 0012-31, 1906.

Patented Nov. 10,1908.

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MAGHINE FOR PREPARING QUILL SUBSTANCES.

APPLIUATION FILED OUT. a1, 1906.

903,248, Patented Nov. 10,1968.

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UNITED STATES WILLIAM WEBSTER, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE WARREN FEATHERBONE COMPANY OF MICHIGAN, OF THREE OAKS, MICHIGAN,

A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PATENT or rron MACHINE FOR FREPARING- QUILL SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application filed October 31, 1905. Serial No. 341,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WEBsTER, a

subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Preparing Quill Substances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement of the modification of the machine described in my United States Letters Patent N 0. 836,621, dated November 20, 1906, for machine for preparing quill substances, this machine having much the same objects as the invention there stated, except that an im portant element of the machine is eliminated, as my experience demonstrates that it is an element that can be eliminated and still produce very satisfactory stiffening material, particularly where the same is subjected to the processing of the patent of Warren & Holden, issued May 12, 1896, No. 559,827, for corset stiffener and process of making same. The feature eliminated is the depithing device, it being found by me, and having been demonstrated, that it is not necessary to provide any special means for depithing the quill. I therefore here substan tially reproduce the specification of my other application, eliminating therefrom the matter of the depithing features.

This invention relates to machines for treating quills in the manufacture of what is commercially known as featherbone, a substance designed to fill the office of flexible resilient stays in connection with various classes of dress goods. I-Ieretofore in the preparation and manufacture of quills into featherbone, the quill is first split and thoroughly stripped and cleaned of its contained pith. Thereafter the longitudinal sections of the quill thus cleaned are fibered that is, further split longitudinally into a number of thin narrow slivers or fibers disposed side by side, with the end portions of successive bunches of fibers more or less overlapped specially prepared glue or cement and compressing and solidifying by means of rollers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved organized machine for transforming quills from their natural state into the wrapped or wound cords of fibered stock, through the successive operations of splitting, fibering and wrapping or winding. The feather quills of turkeys and other birds are composed of a relatively hard and tough substance forming the back or convex side of the quill, and a softer and more pliant form of the same substance forming the face or concave side of the quill. When the quill is split longitudinally in a plane dividing the back and face of the quill, the two split halves or sections possess these different characteristics in respect to the quality of the substance, and, of course, where the backs are used exclusively in the make-up of one cord and the faces of the quill are used exclusively in the make-up of another cord, these same differences in the quality of the texture will appear in the finished product. Both kinds are useful and valuable, according to the particular purpose or purposes served by the finished product; and another object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a machine in which, by separating the hard and soft sections of the quill, cords possessing the described differences of quality and characteristics may be produced.

Still another obj ect'of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified mechanism whereby the subdividing of the fibered stock and the delivery of the subdivisions to thereceiving tubes of the winders is effected.

In carrying out the purposes of the present invention, I employ, in connection with a suitable platform or table, a single quill-feeding or introducing mechanism and splitting device preferably located about centrally of one side of said table or platform; and on either side of said feeding and splitting devices, and extending towards the opposite ends of the table or platform, I dispose separate guiding, fibering, winding or wrapping, and reeling mechanisms, which are substantial duplicates of each other, one set of mechanisms taking care of one side of the split quills, and the other set similarly operating upon the other side of the split quills.-

connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which I have illustrated a practical mechanical embodiment of the invention, and in which, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the complete machine with minor details omitted for the sake of clearness, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one longitudinal half of the machine;

it being understood that the other half is a duplicate of the same parts inversely arranged; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of the feeding-in mechanism, substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevational' view of the main intermediate portion of the machine, with the winding devices omitted for the sake of clearness; Fig 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but including one of the winders and its drivingmeans; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the quill-fibering mechanism and its driving means, which mechanism is duplicated at the two ends of the machine latform or table; Fig. 7 is an enlarged etail view of the main line or driving shaft and showing the driving means therefrom to the quill-cutter devices at the two ends of the machine and the quill-splitting devices at the center of the machine; Fig. 8 is a detail plan view in the nature of a diagram illustrating the system of geared connections between the main fiber-cutter and feeding-in shafts shown in Fig. 7 and the auxiliary feed rolls; Fig 9 isa diagrammatic plan view, illustrating the sprocket and chain driving devices of each gang of winders; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the mechanism in which the quill sections are fibered, guided and delivered to the receiving tubes of the winders; Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are detailplan views of a plurality of stationary washers interposed between the circular cutters of one stack of fibering devices, which serve the four-fold function of spacers for the cutting disks, cleaners for-the cutting disks, fiber-ejectoraand fiber guides between the cutters and the winders, said parts being shown in the relative angular positions which they occupy when assembled in the stack; and Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are views similar to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, respectively, of the corresponding washers in the opposite stack of cutters. 7

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the machine, I will first briefly outline in a general way the preferred organization ofthe machine as herein shown and described, naming the several mechanisms and the order in which they cooperate. The entire mechanism is superposed upon a flat oblong table or platform, the principal operating parts of the machine being carried by a smaller similarly shaped bed-plate supported on suitable standardsupon and above said table or platform. C entrally'of one of the longer sides of thebed-plate is mounted a qui -feeding mechanism from which the stripIped quills are advanced in successively over a ping order with the nose of each quill severa inches in advance of the nose ofthe next succeeding quill, upon a quill-splitting knife, whence the two are fed in opposite direction. sections are advanced in Thence the substantially alves of the quills straight lines and in opposite directions tosubdivisions or bundles and guides anddii rects each division into and through the receiving tubes .of a series of winders situated at different angles behind and converging toward the discharge side of the fiberin mechanism. In these winders the severa bunches of fibered stock are wound about by a suitable cord or thread which binds them together into a continuous strip, the winders each being provided with gripping rolls which serve to draw the strips through the winders ata suitable rate of speed to effect the proper binding together of the slivers. From the winders the wound strips at each end pass off the ends of the machine over a reciprocating coiling mechanism to and around a series of receiving spools on which they are laid in successive spiral layers.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of the machine and of the several cooperating mechanisms of which it is composed, 1 desig nates arectangular horizontal table or plat "form supported at its four corners on legs 2.

3 designates a shorter horizontal bed-plate supported upon and above the'table on suitab e standards 4. Substantially centrally of one of the longer sides of the bed-plate 3,is secured thereto a laterally'extending shelf 5 (Figs. 2 and 3), constituting a supportfor the quill stacking and introducing mechanisms This latter comprises two or more pairs of posts 6 and 7, the members of-each pair being "spaced sufficiently to receive between them a series of superposed stripped quills 8. In-

wardly of the guiding and supporting posts 6' and 7 thererises from the bed-plate a post 9 which has a deep longitudinalgroove 10 on that side' adjacent to the guides 6, the lower end of which groove is continued through the posts in the form of a feed throat 11 (Fig. 3) of sufiicient size to admit the passage therethrough of the two lowermost quills of the series. The post 9is preferably surmounted by a removable guide hop er 12 (Fig. 3) having outwardly flaring wal s adapted to readily receive and guide into the vertical groove of the post the advance or blunt ends of the quills. From the foregoing it will be seen. that the stack of quills is supported and guided at its inner end by the grooved post 9 and intermediate its length by the inner and outer guide posts 6 and 7. In order to effect the downward feed of the individual quills of the stack as fast as the quills are withdrawn from the bottom, I employ means for maintaining a constant downward pressure of the stack of quills, the means herein shown for this purpose consisting of a bar 13 disposed behind the stack and having at its ends pivoted fingers 14 which overlie the upper quill crosswise thereof, to which bar is secured a depending rod 15 (Fig. 3) passing through and guided in the bed-plate extension shelf 5 and platform 1, and terminating in the weight 16.

Referring next to the mechanism for advancing into the machine the successive quills of the stack from the bottom of the lat ter, 19 and 19 designate a pair of duplicate feed disks that are mounted in the same horizontal plane on the upper ends of shafts 20 and 20 j ournaled vertically in the bedplate 3. A turkey quill is of maximum diameter or thickness near its inner end, and tapers therefrom gradually to its outer end, as shown in Fig. 3. The disks 19 and 19 have a thickness substantially equal to the maximum diameter of one quill plus the intermediate or mean diameter of the next quill, for a purpose which will appear in con nection with the description of the opera tion; and are preferably provided with slightly grooved or fluted peripheries, and with flattened portions, indicated at 19 in Fig. 2, which come opposite each other or into registration once during each revolution of the disks to permit the next to the lowermost quill to drop between the disks and be engaged thereby. These disks are so positioned in the horizontalplane of the feed slot or throat 11 that as the rear ends of the flattened portions 19 come together upon the next to the lowermost quill, the latter is clamped between the continued rotation of the disks, the lowermost quill of the stack having been similarly gripped by the disks and partially advanced into the machine.

From the slot or throat 11 the nose of each quill advances, some three or more inches behind the nose of the immediately preceding quill, into the grip of a pair of peripherally notched or milled feed rolls 21 and 21 mounted in the same horizontal plane on the upper surface of the bed-plate 3, said rolls being keyed on the upper ends of a pair of vertical shafts 22, 22 mounted in the bed-plate 3. From the grip of said rolls the quill passes directly upon the edge of a knife-blade the quills longitudinally into a mass of slivers 23 so disposed as to lie lon itudinally of the advancing quill and centre ly of its path of movement, whereby the quill is split longitudinally into two halves, one of them representing (in the feeding arrangement shown) the hard back of the quill, and the other representing the softer face portion of the quill. This latter, making a turn of substantially a right angle to one side, is engaged by and fed between the feed roll 21 and a companion feed roll keyed on the up er end of a shaft 25 mounted in an adjustab e bearing block 26, whence it passes through a tubular tapered guide-channel 30 to the nip of another pair of peripherally milled feed rolls 31 and 32 keyed on vertical shafts 33 and 34, respectively, the roll 32 being carried in an adjustable bearing-block 35, so as to be adjustable toward and away from the periphery of its companion roll 31. By these rolls 31 and 32 the section or sections of quill stock are further advanced through another tubular tapered guide-channel 36 into the action of thefibering mechanism which splits or fibers, which latter as they emer e from this mechanism, are divided into a p urality of parts or portions each of which is led away separately to and through a mechanism which wraps a cord or thread therearound to bind each division into a continuous strip or strand. This mechanism, which is shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 10 to 16 inelusive, consists, generally speaking, of two stacks of superposed rotary cutting disks separated by alternate stationary washers which serve the quadruple function of spacing the cutting disks so that the edges of one series slightly overlap the proximate edges of the other series, of cleaning the cutting disks and preventing the accumulation of fine particles of the material therebetween, of ejecting the individual slivers from between the cutter disks, and of guiding said slivers into the tubular receiving mouths of their appropriate winders. The construction of this mechanism will be readily understood by reference to the detail views, Fig. 6, and Figs. 10 to 16 inclusive, wherein 37 and 38 designate a pair of vertical shafts rotatably mounted in the bed-plate 3 beyond and to either side of the discharge end of the channel-guide 36, said shafts having keys 39 and 40, respectively (Fig. 10). To either side of said shafts are mounted in the bed-plate pairs of posts 41 and 42, respectively.

On the shafts 37 and 38 are mounted, first, a pair of relatively thick shims 43 and 44, superposed on which are series of alternately disposed circular cutting disks and interposed washers of the same thickness as the disks. All of the cutter-disks are keyed on the respective shafts 37 and 38 so as to rotate therewith while the apertures of the washers are of sufficient diameter to permit the shafts and their keys to rotate therein, as shown in Fig. 10. The two series of alternate cutters and washers are so positioned on the shafts 37 and 38, respectively, that the cutters of one series occupy the horizontal plane of the washers of the other series, and vice versa; so that the proximate edges of the cutter disks overlap each other, the inner peripheral portion of each cutter-disk lying between the inner peripheral portions of the adjacent cut smaller separated apertures 51 and 52 that en age the posts 41 and 42, respectively, and ho d said washers non-rotatably about the axes of the cutters. The edges 53 and 54 of the washers lying adjacent to each other are disposed inward y of the overlapping portions of the cutter-disks, and these edges are continued on the discharge side of the cutters in the form of straight tangential portions disposed at difierent angles to constitute guides for the fibers into the receiving tubes of the winders. In the present drawings, I have shown the fibering mechanism as serving six winders, the receiving tubes of which 7 are grouped about 36 degrees apart around the discharge side of the fibering mechanism. In this case, the tangential guiding edges of one group of washers on each side are extended at a comparatively small angle from the line of feed of the quills into the fibering mechanism, as shown at 55 and 56 (Figs. 13 and 16). The tangential guiding edges of an other group are extended at a somewhat greater angle, as shown at 57 and 58 (Figs. 12 and 15); while the tangential guiding edges of the third group extend at approximately a right angle from the line of feed of the quills, as shownat 59 and 60 (Figs. 11 and 14). In the particular instance shown, the lowermost 'roup consisting of four washers guides the owermost portion of the fibered stock over the tangential margins 55 and 56 into the two central receiving tubes of the winders; the intermediate group, comprising two washers on each side guides the intermediate portion of the fibered stock over the tan- I gential edges 57 and 58 into the intermediate receiving tubes of the winders; and the upper group, consisting of four washers on each side, guides the upper portion of the fibered stock over the .tangential'guides 59 and 60 into the outermost receiving tubes of the winders. I have found in practice that the successive fibers as they pass in more or less ceiving tubes of the winders.

overlapped condition through the cutter, cling so closely to the guiding edges of the stat1onary Washers that the latter may be relied upon to eject the fibered stock and conduct the several divisions thereof into the re- Upwardly projecting flanges 61, 62, 63 and 64 may be provided on the lowermost washers of each group to serve as additional uiding means for the fiber and may be usefuI under-certain conditions. p

The two cooperating series or stacks of cutters and washers are suitably clamped and confined by means of upper washers 65 and 66, nuts 67 and 68, and lock-nuts 69 and 70.

From the fibering mechanism last described the divided sections of the fibered stock pass off to and through a series of winders which coil about them a binding cord or thread. These winders, six of which are herein shown at each end'of the machine, are duplicates of each other, and are positioned on the table 1 at suitable angles to receive the several sections. Each winder is mounted on a post 71 (Figs. 2 and 5) secured at its base by a clamping bolt 72 op erating in a guide 73 of a horizontal feed plate 74 in such manner asto be adjustable toward and from the'ffiberi'ng mechanism. The post 71 has rotatably' mounted on a tubular shaft 75 projecting inwardly from a bracket 76 connected to its upper end a putley 77, fast on the outer face of a bevel gear 78, on the inner face of which latter are mounted spools 79 carrying the winding thread 80. Attached to the. inner face of each gear concentrically therewith and in alinement with the tubular shaft 76 is an inwardly projecting tube 81, which tubes extend into close proximity to the outer extremities of the tangential guides of the several series of washers of the fibering mechanism, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The

threads 8O from the spools are threaded.

a pair of ri ping rolls 83 and 84, the func-- One of these rolls (83 is to grip the wound stock,' I I similar gear 87 on the companion roll 84 and i drives the latter.

From the winders the wound strips may be carried to and received upon any suit;

the table 1 is journaled a reel shaft 89 (Fig. 2), carrying on one overhanging end a s rocket wheel 90 by which it is driven. eyed on this shaft are a series of friction disks 91 and 92; and loosely mounted on the same, between said disks are a series of re ceiving spools 93. One head of each spool is crowded against the respective disks 91 by means of a coiled spring 94 which at one end thrusts against the other head of the spool, its opposite end having an abutment against the disk 92 to secure the required frictional effect between the opposite head of the spool and its cooperating friction driving disk 91. The strips or cords are laid in close and uniform coils by a well known type of coiling mechanism consisting of a sleeve 95 slidable longitudinally on a rod 96 supported parallel with and beyond the receiving spools; this sleeve carrying a series of grooved pulleys 97, one for each spool over which the wound strips pass, and having at one end the usual tongue 98 that rides back and forth in the right and left hand thread formed on one end of the shaft 96.

Thus far I have described the various mechanisms and instrumentalities that perform the successive operations upon the material treated, transferring it from stripped quills at the start to continuous uniform stri s or cords of the fibered shells of the quil s; it being understood that the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 as constituting one longitudinal half of the machine is duplicated throughout the other longitudinal half of the machine, as indicated in the general side elevational view of Fig. 1, wherein, to the extent that duplicate parts are shown, they are indicated by the same reference numerals with an alphabetical exponent. I will now briefly describe the mechanism by which the several operating parts already described are given their respective move ments and caused to perform their respective functions in the operation of the machine.

Referring first to the elevational views Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, and the fragmentary plan view, Fig. 7, 99 designates the main line or driving shaft of the machine which is horizontally journaled upon the table 1 under the bed-plate 3, and has fast thereon a grooved pulley 100 receiving motion from a belt 101 driven from any suitable source of power.

On the main shaft 99 are three worms 110, 111, and 112 (Figs. 4 and 7) that engage and drive corresponding worm wheels 113, 114 and 115 on the lower ends of the fiber-cutter shafts 37 and 37 and the feed-roll shaft 22 respectively.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, it will be seen that the shafts 37 and 37 a carry small gears 116 and 116 which mesh with and drive similar gears 117 and 117 respectively, on the companion fiber-cutter shafts 38 and 38 whereby both fibering mechanisms at the opposite ends of the machine are positively driven. Idle gears 118 and 118 (Fig. 8) meshing with and driven by the gears 116 and 116*, respectively, engage and drive gears 119 and 119 on the feed-roll shafts 33 and 33 said last-named gears engaging and driving similar gears 120 and 120 on the companion feed-roll shafts 34 and 34. The central worm-driven shaft 22" carries a gear 121 that meshes with and drives a companion gear 121 on the feed-roll shaft 22; and this latter gear, through an idle gear 122 drives a gear 123 on the shaft of the quill gripping roll 19, said gear 123 engaging and driving a companion gear 123 on the shaft of the companion gripping roll 19 The several winders of each group are driven by the intermeshing bevel gears 78, as shown in Fig. 2, receiving their motion from one of their number which is driven from the main line shaft 99 by means of a pulley 124 (Fig. 5) and a belt 125 connecting the pulleys 124 and 77. For actuating the several pairs of gripping rolls 83 and 84, I employ a sprocket wheel 126 on the fiber-cutter shaft 37, beneath the table 1, which engages and drives, through a chain 127, a series of similar sprocket wheels 128 (Fig. 9) on the lower ends of the several gripping roll shafts 86; a series of adjustable idlers 129 serving to both guide and tension the chain. For 1mparting a positive drive to the reel shaft, I employ, on the lower end of the fiber-cutter shaft 37 a bevel gear 130, which drives a companion gear 131 on the inner end of a power-transmitting shaft 132, on the outer end of which latter is a sprocket wheel 133 (Fig. 2) that drives, through a sprocket chain 134, the reel shaft sprocket 90.

In order to keep the machine as clean and free of dust as possible, I provide means for drawing off, by air suction, the pith of the shells and face parts as fast as it is loosened, the means herein shown comprising cored passages 135 (Fig. 3) formed in the bedplate 3 and leading from the under slde of the machine to the outer face of the bedplate, and connecting with suitable suction pipes indicated at 136.

The operation of the machine has already been set forth in connection with the description of its various parts and mechanisms, and it only remains to point out the leading novel mechanical functions and results secured thereby. In the first place, it will be observed that from the point at which the quills are split the two sections of each quill pass .off through separate cleaners and guides to separate sets of fibering and winding mechanisms. These latter are herein shown and described as disposed at opposite ends of the machine frame, but this particular arrangement is for the sake of simplicity and economy in the disposition of I ends of the machine, respectively.

the driving devices, it being obvious that the particular disposition of the separate sets of hbering and winding devices on the machine is. immaterial, so long as such separate devices are em loyed to handle different parts or sections of the quill. As suggested in the preliminary part of this specification, by splitting the quills between the backs and faces thereof, and leading the backs to one set of fibering and winding mechanisms, and the faces of the quills to the other, two products embodying the different characteristics of the backs and faces of the quills in respect to hardness and toughness are obtainable, which is an important feature and advantage of the present machine. The quills are advanced into the machine over the splitting knife in substantially duplex order, "one abovethe other, the lowermost quill of the pair being a few inches in advance of the upermost; and the two cleaned sections are rought into side by side arrangement during their passage through the tapered guides 30 and 36, the u per Walls of which are downwardly incline 1n the direction of.

travel of the quill sections. This manner of feeding in the quills and handling them during their passage to the fibering mechanism insures a sufficient stock of quill substance to supply both gangs of winders at the oppog ifie e novel form and construction of washers employed in the fibering mechanism is of importance, since these washers are capable of serving not only the functions of spacers and cleaners for the cutting disks, but also the additional functions of guides and dividers for the fibered stock and of supplying the individual winders of each series.

The driving of the several winders of each series by direct intermeshing gears of equal size, one of which is directly driven from the main line shaft and drives all the others, insures equality and uniformity in the work of the winders. Also, the actuation of the reel shaft by the positive driving means shown anddescribed prevents possibility of slipping, and insures a constant take-up and 1 spooling of the product as fast as it is delivered by the machine. 7

' It is evident that the details of the several parts and mechanisms of the'machine and their relative order or arrangement may be somewhat varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of the benefits and advantages flowing therefrom. Hence,

the invention is not limited to the particular construction and organization of machine shown and described, except to the extent clearly indicated in specific claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an organized mechanism for producing corded fibers from quills, the combination with a mechanism for splitting the uills, of du licate means for treating the qui sections located on opposite sides of said splitting mechanism, respectively, each of said means comprising a fibering mechanism for reducing the split sections to a mass of fibers, and a mechanism for winding a binding cord or thread around said fibers, substantially as described.

2. In an organized. mechanism for producing corded fibers from quills, the combination with a mechanism for splitting the quills, of duplicate means for treating the quill sections located on opposite sides of said splitting mechanism, respectively, each of said means comprising a fibering mechanism for reducing the split sections to a mass of fibers, a plurality of winders, and means in association with said fibering mechanism for dividing the mass of fibers and guiding the divisions thereon into said winders, substantially as described. q

3. In a quill-treating machine, the combinationwith means for splitting a quill of two cooperating series of cutter disks having fiber-guiding devices interposed between adjacent pairs of disks, and a plurality of winders havin their fiber-receiving membersdis posed in c ose proximity to said fiber-guiding devices and lrectly receiving the fibered stock therefrom, substantially as described. 

